More easily readable matter is provided by intelligible characters which have spaced stroke components and a contrast space between the stroke components, the stroke components forming the intelligible character so that the width is at least about 20% greater than the height. The component strokes have mass or weight which does not exceed 5% of the contrast space with horizontal stroke components; and which does not exceed 30% of the contrast stroke with vertical space components. Cut-ins at stroke component junctions and spurs at outside corners of stroke components allow printing of the intelligible characters without objectionable rounding or filling-in.
A numbering system is disclosed for use on financial instruments which due to the unique shape and size of each number the financial instrument is secure from having the sums raised through the commonly used cut and paste technique.
An international financial instrument has a multi-letter international monetary code printed on the face thereof in a first area and an amount printed on the face thereof in a second area. The letters making up the monetary code are printed in a negative pattern and formed by a series of rows of printed dots which define the outlines for the letters. The name of the currency denomination corresponding to the multi-letter international monetary code may be printed in at least one line overlapping the multi-letter international monetary code. Each of the letters may be printed in a negative pattern that includes an open area in which a smaller version of the letter is printed in a positive pattern.
